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Rent-A-Chair
The unlawful practice of Rent-a-Chair is considered to be a serious issue currently confronting the integrity and professionalism of hairdressing in Western Australia. There is a growing problem being reported by industry representatives and board members regarding the practice by some salon owners of renting a chair in their salon in an attempt to bypass industrial relations legislation to gain a commercial advantage over their opposition.
Salon owners and hairdressers need to be aware that the practice of rent-a-chair breaches industrial relations legislation. Rent-a-chair breaches Clause (11) WAGES, Subclause (5) Ban on Sub-Contracting, of the Hairdressers Award which states:
Ban on Sub-Contracting
No employer shall rent any portion of the salon to an employee or employ any employee in the hairdressing trade on a commission only basis, or in any manner other than prescribed in this award.
In essence you cannot contract outside the hairdressers award unless it is under a registered industrial agreement recognised and supported by the Industrial Relations Commission. There can also be serious taxation implications associated with this practice for both the salon owner and any hairdresser working in this environment.
Anyone Engaged in this practice risks prosecution under the industrial relations legislation and can be challenged and disciplined under the Hairdressers Registration Act, questioning whether they are a fit and proper person to hold registration and practice as a hairdresser in Western Australia.
Don’t risk suspension of your hairdresser’s registration by participating in this unlawful practice.
